History

In 1983 members of the shipping trade and lawyers specialised in maritime law from Hamburg and Bremen set up GMAA. Their aim was to offer the maritime business a more moderately priced and effective alternative to other arbitration systems abroad and to promote maritime arbitration as practised in the port cities of Hamburg and Bremen on a national and international level. Clear and easily understandable rules of procedure, together with moderate fees, were ideally placed to achieve that aim.

Having established itself in the German market during the first years of its existence, GMAA arbitration received international recognition by organising the IX. International Congress for Maritime Arbitrators in Hamburg in 1989 under the participation of 250 maritime arbitrators from 32 countries. Today, the GMAA offers a modernised set of procedural rules, a very favourable fee scale and both nationally and internationally recognised arbitrators. In 2009 GMAA, again, organized ICMA XVII in Hamburg where 80 speakers from around the world presented maritime law and arbitration topics in 20 different conference sessions.

Past chairs of the GMAA are:

In order to reward his efforts for the GMAA, Dr. Peter Holtappels was appointed honorary chairman.

From 1996 to 2010 Dieter Griebel shaped the GMAA as its secretary with dedication and passion. The GMAA is tremendously indebted to him.